Disclaimer: I do not own the Fallout series. Also, this is my first story so it might not be the best. Anyways, enjoy.
The sun began to rise over the Capital Wasteland, shedding an orange glow over the waters of the Potomac River. The overpass provided a perfect view for anyone wanting to forget the horrors of the world they inhabit for the first hours of the day. But, the man standing on the overpass wasn't there to enjoy the view; he was there to get his bearings and figure out his relative location. His name was Price, and he was a mercenary; but not just your regular Talon Company asshole. No he was trained, and was sent out on a specific job with a massive pay. The job wasn't to kill anyone, well not just one person anyway; and the pay was exactly 10 million caps.
Price didn't really know anything about who hired him, but he was contacted by someone who said he represented a man named Eaton, or someone along the lines of that name. He was picked for one reason, he had the knowledge and the capabilities to break into anything. And his employer made the job very clear, locate some underground bunker called a "vault" and open the door. That does seem simple enough but those vaults were built to last, and were hidden better than you could possibly imagine.
Price's first stop was a small settlement on the Potomac called Arefu, and small was an understatement. Four buildings on a crumbling overpass, and an elderly man guarding the entrance who looked about 60. "Hey! Who are you stranger?" The man asked. Price didn't have time for chit-chat "That's not important, what is important is what you know about a subject my employers want very badly." Price hoped the straightforwardness and his tone would get the information he needs. "Well that depends, what information do you need and as long as you don't plan on using that information for a nefarious purpose I can give it to you." This old timer was smarter than he looked so Price planned his response carefully. "Well, I need a certain location revealed to me but that can come later. So what's your story my friend?" Based on this man's facial expression, Price knew he had won. "Names Evan King, I grew up here and well that's pretty much it. I sort of inherited this town and now I keep it safe. So what about you?" Not expecting this, Price had to come up with a bullshit backstory. "My names Price, I grew up a few miles to the south and set out to explore the Capital a few years ago. But anyway that information, I need a location of a vault."
Evan had a feeling that's what Price wanted, vaults were treasure troves and everyone wanted to get inside. But someone paying a scavenger to find one, that's peculiar. "Well I don't know where any of those are I'm afraid, but there are a few towns around here where someone might know." Shit, a dead end. At least there's some lead. "Well where are these towns?"
Price left Arefu with three new locations; Big Town to the south, Megaton to the west and a supermarket further to the south. Big Town, sounds like a good place to start. As Price walked up to the settlement he noticed the state of disrepair on every building. "If the people here are actually surviving, they're only reaching the bare minimum." He mumbled to himself. He approached the small ditch in front of the entrance and crossed the bridge spanning the "gap". As he walked into the town he heard the familiar "click" of a hunting rifle coming off of safety. "Whoa there, best you back the fuck up before I put a hole in your head!" Price completely neglected the armed guard at the entrance. Wanting to avoid confrontation, Price complied and backed up a few feet; waiting until the gun was only a few inches from his head.
In one swift motion Price ripped the gun from the guard's hands, and delivered a powerful kick to his shin. With a cry of pain, the guard dropped to the ground. Price quickly covered his mouth and dragged him behind a small wall in front of the nearest house. "I need information now, and you better tell me. I have roughly 90 seconds until your buddies realize you're not at your post. So I need this information fast if you want them to find you with JUST a broken shin." With a terrified look on his face, the guards' moans of pain quickly transformed into words. "Okay, okay! Holy shit this hurts, what do you need to know?" "I need to know where the nearest vault is, and if you don't tell me I have certain ways to make you." "Vault? Yeah, yeah vault. Okay I overheard one of our scouts talk about some cave near Megaton, my best guess is that's where it would be. I told you what you wanted to hear right? You're not going to kill me right? Hey, hey what the fuck's that?! Is that Med-X? Oh dear God!" Before he could get any louder, Price administered just enough Med-X to shut him the hell up for about twelve hours. Hopefully when he woke up he wouldn't remember any of their little "meeting".